The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-03-01
THE FORTY-NINTH CONGRESS
Mr.. Edmunds Complains of the Houses
Delay in Maturing Important Bills,
Necessary-Irreconcilabl Differences
Concerning Retaliation Measures.


WASHINGTON, Feb. 28.-The presiding officer
presented a message from the President in re-
Spouse to a resolution of the Senate in reference
to the seizure and sale of the American schoon-
er Rebecca, at Tampico, and to the resignation
of the late minister to Mexico, Mr.. Jackson,
stating that it is not deemed compatible with
the public interest" to communicate the CORE
spondence in either case at present
Mr.. Brown submitted remarks on the subject
of the message He stated the facts in connec
ton with the seizure Of the Rebecca, in 1884
The claim for indemnity had dragged its slow
coil through three years of diplomatic CORE
spondence without redress. 1t was time that
the American minister should make an earnest
and vigorous demand for restitution, and that
was the view taken of the subject by the late
Minister jackson. He intimated that that had
been one of the causes OF Mr.. Jackson's resigna-
ton. Mr.. jackson believed that American citi-
zens had been seized, and imprisoned, and
shamefully robbed of their property in Next
can port, and that the robbery had been COM
mtted with the aid and pretended authority OF
local Mexican court
At the request of the presiding officer. Mr.
Brown yielded the floor temporarily, and the
naval appropriation bill, which had just been re-
ceived from the House, was laid before the Sem
ate and read the first time.
The presiding officer having presented the
naval appropriation bill, its second reading was
objected to bv Mr. Edmunds who stated his
reasons for doing so. He complained of the
great and unwarranted delay on the part of the
House in sending to the Senate the great appro-
priation bills. and announced his settled deter
mination not to have them raiiroaded through
the Senate. The Senate should have the neces-
sary time to give full consideration to them, and
should the President. The bill in reference
to the fishery troubles had not yet been passed
finally, and if Congress were to adiourn without
hcy iyn nd
would be the duty of the President to call the
new Congress in extra session. The Interstate
commerce commissioners had, for some reason
or other, not been appointed, and he did not see,
In the condition of things that any undue haste
should be made about the appropriation bills, or
that the Senate should be coerced from its wise
and ell-ordered rules Of business. He asked
that the committee on appropriations should
make statement as to the condition of business.
Statements were thereupon made BY Senators
Hale and Allison, showing the obstacles thrown
in the way of legislation by the HOUSE, and in
timating their opinion of the possibility Of get
ting through the necessary business Of legisla-
ton before noon on March 4
The House labor arbitration bill was passed
by the Senate without amendment.
Upon motion of Mr. Blair, the House bill to
prevent the employment of convict or alien
labor upon public buildings on public works or
in the preparation of material for public build
ings OR public works, was taken up and, with
out discussion, was passed.
n.
provide for the adjustment of land grants here
tofore made by Congress and remaining unad-
justed, was taken up, and, after the adoption Of
sundry amendments, was passed. A conference
was ordered upon it
Upon motion of Mr. Miller, the pleuro- pneu-
moniA Iii was taken up
Upon the motion made by Mr.. Dawes to re-
consider the vote by which the Edmunds substi-
tute was last week adopted, the vote stood 80 to
%. so the motion to reconsider was carried The
E0mup6Sa h
| stitute. Mr. Harris made a motion that further
consideration be postponed until tomorrow.
Lost-16 to %. The Edmunds substitute was
then reiected-yeas 81, nays 90.
Mr.. Van Wyck renewed his amendmert-ex-
tending the applieatona of the bill to swine
plague and cholera, and other contagious dis
| eases among swine, and it was adopted. The
| bill was then passed-yeas 80, nays 10.
Mr.. Edmunds, from the conference committee
on the bill respecting the fisheries made s long
report to the difficulties existing in the confer
| ence and which prevented an agreement The
| irreconcble point of difference between the
| managers on the part of the two houses is re-
ported to be the insstance on the part of the
| House managers to add to the scope of the SEN
ate bill the fourth provision, that in of III
| furious treatment to American vessels in British
| North American waters it shall be within the
| competence of the President to stop intercourse
| absolutely, not only by water but by land. thus
| cutting off the continuous movement Of railway
trains from the British provinces to any part of
|
from the United States to the British domin-
ions. The Senate managers had felt it to be
duty to decline to 60 to that extent 1t
seemed clear to the Senate managers. and
| was not controverted by the House
| managers that the things which the Presden,
| was authorized to do by the Senate bill were not
in derogation of any treaty right or of the peace
| full intercourse of nations and were not done liz
spirit of beligerency, but merely as a matter
of countervalling business regulations. The
result of the conference had been that the Housf
of Representatives.. through its managers did
not object to the Senate bill, but desired to ado
| a new and enlarged provision to it, while the
| Senate managers were not willing to go to tina
| extent The Senate managers had felt it thei
duty on this important matter to report THU
state of things at once to the Senate for its In
formation. The report is signed by the three
Senate conferees-Senators Edmunds, Frye anG
| Morgan.
Mr. Whitthorne submitted the point that tn
paper read was not within the province of con
ference committee, intimating, in the course O
his remarks that the action of the House in thi
matter was in consonance with the views of tn
administration.
Mr.. Morgan. one of the conferees, defended tn
action of the Senate conferees in presenting tn
| paper. He asked whether there was any Sen
ator willing to say that the President Nigh
issue proclamation of non-intercourse between
the people of Canada and the people of tn
United States. Would any Senator expect tina
the President who would proclaim non inter
course would be sustained in that policy TO
three monthsf
The subject was temporarily dropped an
the Senate bill to prohibit the mailing of news
papers and other periodicals containing lotter
advertisements was taken up and passed.
Mr.. Sherman offered resolution providing 70
daily meetings of the Senate at IL A. M. Lai
over till tomorrow.
The Senate then went into secret session fo
executive business-apparently for the purpos